Your Right to Know

Sen. John Walsh of Montana faces an allegation of plagiarism because his 2007 master’s thesis
from the Army War College contains significant sections that appeared to be copied from other
sources without attribution.

The allegations became public just as Senate Democrats gave the legislative spotlight to Walsh,
one of the chamber’s most vulnerable incumbents. Lawmakers on Wednesday advanced and are debating a
measure he sponsored to give tax breaks to companies relocating jobs to the U.S. from other
countries.

Walsh, a Democrat, took office this year replacing Max Baucus, a 35-year Senate veteran who
became ambassador to China. Walsh is running for election in November against Rep. Steve Daines, a
Republican.

“This was unintentional, and it was a mistake,” Lauren Passalacqua, a spokeswoman for Walsh’s
campaign, said in a statement. “There were areas that should have been cited differently, but it
was completely unintentional.”

Walsh, 53, was lieutenant governor when he was chosen for the Senate vacancy by Gov. Steve
Bullock.